‘Controlled chaos’ as Boro overhaul Coventry at top

It was on the night of 25 November that Kim Hellberg was introduced to his new set of supporters before sitting down to watch Middlesbrough lose 4-2 in a top-of-the-table clash with Coventry City.

Victory for the Sky Blues opened up a 10-point gap between the sides and also a blueprint in how to succeed in Championship football.

But Hellberg must be a fast learner because 76 days later, three points at Sheffield United has allowed Boro to leapfrog Frank Lampard’s team and become the new Championship leaders.

After slipping to 10th last season in the last days of Michael Carrick’s time in charge, this term was a case of a leap into the unknown after the appointment of Rob Edwards.

But a 100% start in August put them at the top and they rode that wave through the opening couple of months until Edwards was tempted away by a Premier League switch to Wolves.

His departure was not well received by fans who felt that Edwards had jumped ship as soon as another club had glanced eyes at him. Now three months on, with Wolves’ relegation waiting to be rubber-stamped, there is a strong chance his old club will be replacing his new one in the top flight.

Hellberg arrived with a strong reputation from leading unfashionable Hammarby to successive runners-up spots in Sweden’s Allsvenskan.

Would he be able to maintain Boro’s strong start under Edwards in his first coaching job outside his home country?

From 14 games with Hellberg running the show, Boro have amassed 31 points, an average of 2.21 per game. If they manage that over their final 15 games, a final total of 94 points would surely be good enough for an automatic promotion spot.

In this period of almost three months, Boro have collected the most points in the division, the most wins (10) and have conceded the fewest goals (12) while only Sheffield United have scored more than their 27.

Hellberg’s reign began with four wins before a festive wobble where they collected a solitary point from four games with a New Year’s Day defeat at Derby County leaving them nine points adrift of Coventry.

Since then, Boro have been supercharged. Six wins from six. Championship perfection and wins in all different scenarios.

Can they sweep a team aside when on top? Yes, as shown by 4-0 victories over Southampton and Preston North End. Can they grind it out? Yes, as shown against an in-form Norwich City.

While it is on the road that Hellberg has really been impressed by what his team has shown.

“Away against Stoke, that had only conceded five goals in eight games, they scored the first goal but we turned it around,” Hellberg told BBC Sport.

“At West Bromwich with a new manager, we go 2-0 up, they get it back to 2-2, but we score a late winner and then this game (at Sheffield United) where I thought we had very good control.

“We had a couple of blowouts at home but then the Norwich game, they were in very good form.

“We have played a lot of good teams with different challenges and the players have responded in a brilliant way. They have showed a lot of different qualities to bring those wins together.

In the aftermath of the latest win at Bramall Lane, Hellberg said that the target was not promotion but continued improvement as the prizes are not decided in February.

But regular Boro watchers will know that the first 45 minutes against the Blades was the best football of the season with two goals scored, eight shots on target and a high possession count.

Australia midfielder Riley McGree was one of the goalscorers and he has enjoyed a welcome return from the injury that kept him on the sidelines in the autumn.

He sums up the team’s fast-passing style that is reaping such rewards.

“At times it is controlled chaos, but there is definitely a method to it,” McGree told BBC Radio Tees.

“We train for these moments, we train for the output that we’re going to have in games and I think it paid credit to that.”

While it’s clear that Hellberg’s humility and work ethic is rubbing off on the squad despite them now hitting the league’s summit.

He added: “We’re in form, aren’t we? We’re six from six, but you need to respect everyone in the Championship, whoever you come up against.

As Coventry have already showed this season, pressure can do funny things at the top, but Middlesbrough have the bit between their teeth and now they have to maintain the pace in their new role as the hunted.